Catasetum - Orchids That Attack - Orchid Board

Dorothy · #1 (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 06:23 AM

I found this link fascinating and wanted to share it with everyone

Grandma M · #2 (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 06:57 AM

Thanks, Dorothy.

The more I read about orchids the more I become facinated with all aspects of growing and enjoying them.

cb977 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 08:10 AM

Cool article, D!

I had heard of this happening when I was researching the Ctsm pileatum a friend gave to me. I kept telling my hubby not to touch the bloom at all. It was so beautiful that I decided to display it on our lanai table rather than keeping it stuck in the room. One morning I went outside and found a whole bunch of...ummm...GOOK...all over the table! Took a few minutes of

and

to realize that the plant had spit!!! Ewwwww!!!

First words out of hubby's mouth..."that plant never leaves the room again, right?" ...

Laura also told me about somebody who had the pollen shot directly into his eye and it took a surgical procedure to remove it.

Word of warning...do NOT get too close to these wonderful, gorgeous and kind of oddball 'chids!

Dorothy · #4 (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 08:23 AM

That or wear eye protection ..

(maybe a welder's mask

)
There are spitting cobras, spitting fish .. why not spitting orchids ...

cowboy51278 · #5 (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 08:32 AM

i knew they could give a bee a good whack, but i didn't think it was that strong. ill have to remember that since my Ctsm is on the middle shelf at eye level and the male flowers are just begining to bud out.

cb977 · #6 (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 09:05 AM

Eye level may not be the best choice for this one, Paul. I'd hate for you to get hurt.

When mine "spit" on the table, it was all over the table which is 48 inches round and the stuff did not clean up easily.

I think Catasetum are gorgeous but we need to take some precautions with them.

kavanaru · #7 (**permalink**) 04-10-2008, 02:54 PM

Last year, I invited a friend from work for dinner, and to show her one of my Catasetum pileatum that I had on the couch table. Her boyfriend loved the plant as he "had never seen such a strange looking flower". Then he decided to check for scence, took the plant from the table, put his nose in the flowers... less than one second later the plant was rolling under the couch and out of the pott, and the guy was screaming "HOLLY S--T!!! ARE YOU NUT!? HOW CAN YOU HAVE SUCH A F-----G THING IN YOUR APPARTMENT!!!???" it was really funny to see him behaving like a little kid, totally horrified and pale like if he had not seen the sun for at least 20 years...

bonsai1504 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-30-2008, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Last year, I invited a friend from work for dinner, and to show her one of my Catasetum pileatum that I had on the couch table. Her boyfriend loved the plant as he "had never seen such a strange looking flower". Then he decided to check for scence, took the plant from the table, put his nose in the flowers... less than one second later the plant was rolling under the couch and out of the pott, and the guy was screaming "HOLLY S--T!!! ARE YOU NUT!? HOW CAN YOU HAVE SUCH A F-----G THING IN YOUR APPARTMENT!!!???" it was really funny to see him behaving like a little kid, totally horrified and pale like if he had not seen the sun for at least 20 years...